Miami Dolphins PlayerArrested for Choking Taxi Driver

11/26/2012 9:50 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

Breaking News

Miami Dolphins safety Jonathon Amaya was arrested in Miami Beach early this morning ... after he allegedly choked out a cab driver.

According to the Miami Beach PD, 24-year-old Amaya -- 6'2", 185 lbs -- had given the cab driver $100 to take him outside the cab driver's usual area ... but during the ride, the NFL player got "aggressive."

The taxi driver told police he tried to kick Amaya out of the cab -- and even offered to return the $100 -- but Amaya refused. Instead, the cab driver claims, Amaya “leaned forward and wrapped his hands around his neck and started choking him."

When cops arrived to the scene, Amaya was still inside the cab. The driver told the responding officers, "This man is trying to kill me."

Cops say the cab driver did not have any visible injuries.

Amaya was eventually "escorted" out of the vehicle and arrested for battery just after 4AM.

FYI -- Amaya didn't record a single tackle in the Dolphins victory over the Seahawks on Sunday ... and only has 4 tackles on the year.

10:45 AM PT -- A rep for the Dolphins tells TMZ ... "We are aware of the situation and are in the process of gathering information.”